Taliban committee’s chief warns certain elements can sabotage talks

Head of a committee, formed by the Pakistani Taliban for peace talks with the government, has warned that certain elements could sabotage the propsed dialogue process with the government.

Maulana Sami-ul-Haq referred to the hand grenade attack at a cenima house in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Sunday and said that was an attempt to create doubts about the peace process.

Sami-ul-Haq, also chief of Jamiat ulema-e-Islam party told a news conference in Islamabad on Monday that the Taliban denied any involvement in the blast which had killed at least four people and injured nearly 30 more.

Taliban on Sunday appointed a five-member committee of senior religiosu and opolitical leaders for talks with the government’s committee.

Sami-ul-Haq presided over the first meeting of the Taliban committee and discussed startegy for preliminary discussions with the government’s negotiators. Two members, including chief of Tehrik-e-Insaf party, Imran Khan, did not attend the meeting.

Imran Khan distanced himself from the Taliban committee and said he trusts the government’s committee and one his party members, Rustan Shah Mohmand has been included in the government’s committee.

The government committee was also scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Monday to discuss strategy for talks with the Taliban team, officials said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to give guidelines to official’s committee.

Sami-ul-Haq told the news conference that the Taliban committee will hold talks with the government’s negotiators in a couple of days to take the peace process forward.

He said the Taliban have not yet given them any list of demands and that they will hear point of view of the government’s committee and will convey the same to the Taliban leadership.

Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, Monday welcomed the team nominated by Taliban to hold talks with government committee.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the ongoing dialogue process with Taliban and hoped that both the committees will move forward in positive direction to bring peace to the country.

“The government is serious to overcome terrorism through dialogue as peace is vital to revive the economy,” he told senior journalists in Lahore.

“Restoration of peace through dialogue is the best option for the country. I myself is supervising the dialogue process and the Interior Minister is fully in touch with government committee to assist in bringing a positive outcome.”

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